Multibreak electric switch



Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,276

A. c. KELLE MULTIBREAK ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 1, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I b II I Dec. 25, 1928.

' 6 A. c. KELLE uuwmmx moms swmca Filed April 1,1925

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ji1v621?or. M Q v6.14...

Patented Dec. 25,, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. KELLE, OI CANTON, "MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO OONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MULTIBREAK ELECTRIC swrrrcn.

Application filed April 1, 1925. Serial No. 19,988.

This invention relates to electric switches and particularly. to that type of electric switch characterized by having means to interrupt the circuit through it at a plurality of points arranged electrically in series.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved form of movable switch member for the above type of switch and especially characterized by a strong and rigid construction, particularly in the manner of supporting and electrically connecting the arcing members which provide for the plurality of circuit interrupting points in the circuit.

A further object is generally to improve the construction and operation of electric switches.

Certain features of this invention are disclosed in a co-pending application of William S. Edsall, Serial No. 19,990, filed April 1, 1925, and assi ed to Condit Electrical Manufacturing ompany. v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the stationary and movable switch members of an electric switch embodying the invention.

Fig.2 is a section 9.10 line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the stationary arcing member support.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the supporting bracket for the insulating support of Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is a plan view of a movable switch mom or embod ing the invention and especiall arranged for two brush or bridging mom ers. A

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5. a

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing amodified form especially adapted for a Sin 1e brush or bridgling member.

l i 8 is a partia sectional elevation of Fi some of the elements being removed.

ig. 9 is a perspective detail of a supporti bracketfor a stationary arcing member.-

ig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the current path through the switch subsequent to the opening of the main contacts.

As shown in Figs 1 and 2, the switch here shown as embodying the invention includes the two stationa the insulated stu s 10 and 12 tothe lower ends of which are secured contact blocks 14 and 15. The lower faces of said blocks are adapted to be engaged directly by brush or bridging members forming a part of the movable switch member. s

The switch here shown is arranged to proswitch members including vide four points for circuit interruption which are disposed electrically in series between the stationary switch members Whereby four circuit interrupting arcs may be drawn. To this end the stationary switch members are provided with stationary arcing members 18 and 20, which arcing members are more or less elongated and wedge shaped attheir lower ends. Said stationary arcing members are disposed on similar sides of the stationary switch members and in spaced relation therewith and away from each other. Said stationary arcing members are supported in the aforesaid relation by and are electrically connected with said stationary switch members by means of supportin brackets 22, a perspective view of one of w ich is illustrated in Fig. 9. Said supporting brackets areattached removably to the contact blocks by suitable means as bolts 24 and are formed with outwardly-divergent and verticallybar is secured b screws 36 to the supporting I bracket 38. Sa1d supporting bracket is fixed to the lower end ofa vertical insulating pillar 40. An attaching bracket 42 is fixed to the upper end of said pillar by which said illar is secured rigidly to a support 44; an said bracket is provided with an elongation 46 which is disposed between and insulated from the stationary switch members and is formed with bolt holes 48 through which attaching bolts 50 are passed.

The movable switch member, with which this invention is more particularly concerned, includes one or more brush or bridgingmembers and a plurality of arcing members, which arcing members are adapted to engage and cooperate with the above described stationary arcing members. In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the movable switch member includes a supporting member 52,

which member is provided with a semi-cir- Maw.

cular, tapered and vertically-extended recess 5% therein in which an insulating switcn rod is adapted to be received. It cap 56 is provided with a complemental recess 3 and said cap is adapted to be clamped to the supporting member and switch rod by suit as bolts (30. Said supp formed with a ease-plate 62 whici extends horizontall in opposite directions troin the lo ver part of said supper i member; and a brush or current carrying member til i secured removal ly to the end :tace or said base plate by a snial. neans as the bolts Said suppcrtiin m mber is formed vided with a paable means rting member is x :r o. oppositely direct a and downwardly cxtenoed aid 70, tl e outer ends of which are reflex ed forwardly whereby a )proximately to lie in the l vertical plane. ot the switch rod; ant said arms are disposed approximately at right angles to the brush member. 3 member supports are ed p ice. to carried by said arms and to this end the lower tacos of said arms are formed or provi sari-circu- L lar recesses T2 therein; and cap memb having complemental rece are said arm by the bolts '76.

The movable member supports coinprise cylindri al 1' Y8 and which rods are of a substantial length and diamete and are composed of some suitable insulating material. Said rods are cl: nip-ed, approximately atmid-length. in and to the ends of said arms 68 and 70 by the cap members 7d and are thereby firmly secured to the supporting member 52. Said rods are formed or pro- Vided with reduced and square end-portions 82 on which the arcing members are disposed.

As here shown, each arcing" member comprises a pair oi juxtaposed contact member 88 and 84: which are adapted to be moved ugwardly when the sw'tch is moved into closed position to engage opposite faces of the stationary arcing members Said contact members are secured to the upper ends oi flexible spring members 86 whereby they ma yield outwardly in contact with the stationary arcing me nbers. The rower ends of said spring members 86 are fixed to an attaching member 88, the structure of which is more particularly shown in Fi Each attaching: member is formed w i a square aperture therein in which the sonar end-portion S2 of supporting r d is adapted to be received. A slot 90 is extended rrom the low r face of the at.- taching memb i into tl e aperture and a clamping bolt i2 is passed through the slotted end of the attaching .aember 'w'hereli to clamp the attaching member firmly to the insulating rod.

The arcing members at the p 'oximate ends of said rods '78 180 are l steal to be electrically connected. To this enu 1 ing members are termed with approximatel pa 'allel projections 9st and a U-shaped substantially rigid and electrically conducting bar 96, coml'irising a brace-me:uber is detachably secured to proxmiate p riucctious b" d bars 96 suitable means as by bolts 98. also serve to impart additiona the structure.

{is thus arranged the twi on the opposite ends of 3 rod, as the rod 80, for instance are to engage with the stationary arcing members carried by the stationary switch me nbers while the other two arcing members are adapted to enthe stationary arcing members carried by the insulating pillu r 10 wh rcby to provide a conducting path between the two stationary switch members which includes all four sets of arcing members in series so that four circuit interrupting; arcs may be drawn in series when the switch op ns.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 5 :nd 6 is similar in principle to the construction illustrated in T and except that provision is made ,t'or two brush or lridging members 64 and G l In this modification, said arms 68 and T0 are independent of each other and are secured together in alignment and also to the supporting rod by the bolts (30. Each arm is provided with a base plate (32 to which a brush member secured. The con struction is otherwise identical to the previously described modification.

The structure may be otherwise modified without departing from the spirit of the in vention.

I claim:

1. A movable switch member for break electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of opposite. y-directed arms, an insulating rod carried by each arm and extended t 'ansversely thereof and in opposite directions therebcyond. arcing members carried at both ends of s2 id rods, and means carried by said movable uembe r;

a multimovable structure 81"t1llf-Jttl electrically to connect the arcing members on similar ends of said rods.

2. A movable switch member for a multibreal: electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of oppositelydire-cted arms an insulating rod carried by each arm and extended t'ansrersely thereof and in opposite directions therebeyond. electrically conducting brace-members rigidly connecting: the similarly-extended ends of said rods on both sides of said arms. and aro inn members disposed at the connections between said rods and braceanenibers.

53. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric s witch comprising a support inn structure having a pair of oppositelydirected arms. an insulating rod carried by each arm and extended transversely thereof and in oppo e directions therebeyond. cor,- tac supportn5; members fixed to both ends; of each rod ln'ace-members rigidly connected lill) to the adjacent ends of said supporting members on bothsides of said arms, and arcing Ilonembers carried by said supporting memers.

4. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a verticallymovable supporting structure having a pair of oppositelydirected arms, an insulating rod carried by each arm and extended transversely thereof and in opposite directions therebeyond, said rods having reduced and squared end-portions, arcing members having square apertures in which said end-portions are received, means to secure said arcing members in the aforesaid relation, and electrical conductors on both sides of said structure connecting the adjacent arcing members of said two rods. 1

5. A. movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of oppositelydirected arms, an insulating rod carried by each arm and extended transversely thereof and in opposite directions therebeyond, said rods having reduced and squared end-portions, arcing members having square aper tures in which said end-portions are received, said arcing members having projections disposed in approximate parallelism with said rods, and U-shaped brace-members fixed to the projections of proximate arcing members of said rods.

6. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of oppositely-directed arms, a bridging member carried by said structure intermediate and transversely of said arms, an insulating rod carried by the end of each arm and extended in opposite directions therebeyond and disposed in approximate parallelism with said bridging member, and arcing members carried by the ends of said rods.

7. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprisin a supporting structure having a pair 0 oppositelydirected arms, a bridging member carried by said structure intermediate and transversely of said arms, an insulating rod carried by the end of each arm and extended in opposite directions therebeyond and disposed in approximate parallelism with said bridging member, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, and electrical conductors con necting said arcing members.

8. A movable switch member for a multi-v brcak electric switch comprisin a supporting structure having a pair 0 oppositelydirected arms, a bridging member carried by said structure'intermediate and trans-' posed in approximate parallelism with said bridging member, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, and brace-members extended between and fixed rigidly to the proximate ends of said rods, said brace-members also providing electrical connection between said arcing members.

10. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of oppositelydirected arms, a base-member disposed beneath said arms, a bridging member attached to said base-member and extended transversely and on opposite sides of said arms, 1

an insulating rod carried by and extended transversely and on opposite sides of each I arm, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, and electric conductors connectlng the arcing members on similar ends of said rods.

11. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of oppositelydirected arms, a base-member disposed be 1";

neath said arms, a bridging member attached to said base-member and extended transversely and on opposite sides of said arms, an insulating rod carried by and extended transversely and on opposite sides of each arm, arcing members fixed to the ends of said rods, and electrically-conducting brace-members rigidly connecting the arcing members on similar ends of said rods.

12. A movable switch member. for a multibreak electric switch comprising a verticallymovable supporting structure having a pair of independent arms, means rigidly connecting said arms to extend in opposite directions, a lifting rod clamped between said arms, an insulating rod carried by the end of each arm and extended transversely and in opposite directions thereof, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, and means electrically connecting said arcing members in pairs.

13. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a verticallymovable supporting structure having a pair of independent arms, means rigidly connecting said arms to extend in opposite directions, an insulating rod carried by the end of each arm and extended transversely and in opposite directions thereof, arcing members carried by the ends of said rods, means electri- ISU Mam rank-M cally connecting the arcing members of similar ends of said rods, and a brush member carried by said supporting structure between said insulating rods.

ll. A movable switch member for a multibreak electric switch comprising a supporting structure having a pair of independent arms, means rigidly connecting said arms to extend in opposite directions, a bridging 1nemi ber arried by each arm and extended trans- YQlSCly and in opposite directions thereof, an insulating rod carried by the end of each arm and extended transversely and in opposite directions thereof, arcing, members carried by the ends of said rods, and means electrically connecting said arcing members in pairs.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR C. KELLE. 

